Checker brick system



May 9, l933- v F. M. MILLER 1,907,852

CHEGKER BRICK SYSTEM Filed May 2l, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l /frM/P/VEX May 9, 1933. F, M MlLLER 1,907,852

CHECKER BRICK SYSTEM Filed May 21, 19314 s sheets-sheet 2 l MTA/f5.5: FVG-3- %@f- Fm/ /11 /m//ef May '9, 1933.

F. M. MsLLl-:R 1,907,852

CHECKER BRICK SYSTEM Filed May 21, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BIB l y Y QALHMM @gm/CM Patentedl May 9, 1933 Unire FRED M. MILLER, OF BALA, PENNSYLVANIA CHECKER BRICK SYSTEM Application filed May 21,

The subject of my invention is a checker brick system designed to give a higher efficiency than other checker systems in regenerative furnaces used in the manufacture of iron7 steel, copper, zinc and other metals; glass7 enamels and other chemicals and in the heating of all of these for further treatment. This will cover hot blast stoves, open hearth steel furnaces, crucible furnaces, various types of heating furnaces, glass tank and pot furnaces, various reverl'ieratory furnaces used for bot-h melting and heating metals and chemicals.

The best brick for checker work is the one made on a power press. This is due to the greater density of the so-callcd steam pressed brick over dry pressed and hand-made brick. By putting the brick through sizing macl'rines there is adned to the quality of densiti.f the important one of uniformity. When to these two properties is added mechanical strength and refractoriness, youV have the ideal chec. er brick. This gives a strong refractory brick with. smooth faces. It has strength to hold up Vchecker work without deformation. The penetration of fluxes carried over b v the is slight and the reaction of these finned with thn surfaces of the brick is small. High temperatures can be reached in the chambers, due to the refractoriness of checker brick., which is made from the best clays. The sized grain structure and freedom fr lamination gives a checker brick with a low spalling tendency. Uniformitv of size allows checkers to be built upwith the proper alignment. All this is well known to the trade.

ln my improved checker system such bricks are standard sizes. This means that the consumer can be sure of prompt shipments of his brick from stock, and of a high salvage value after each campaign on his furnace. Neither of these are true with the checker' systems built up from special shapes.

Another feature of my invention is the arrangement of the brick in the checker system into vert al walls right angles to the direction of the gas flow which form fines for conducting between the walls. Transverse bricks are supported at their ends in 1931. Serial No. 538,908.

the walls and extend across the flues, the alterna-te bricksbeing staggered so as to deflect or baiiic the gases passing through the fines and to thereby cause turbulence of these gates which imparts more heat to the refrac- 55. tory bricks or extracts more heat from the refractory bricks than is the case when the flow is direct vthrmigh the refractory system. `At their ends the bricks which formthe vertical walls and the transverse bricks define be- 6@ tween them orifices which permit thev gas to flow from one flue into another and to therebyfequalize the static' pressure of the gas thro ighout the checker chamber and consequently the temperature of the heat stored @5i iii-'each flue so that it is uniform throughout the rcfractorysystem.

VA further feature of my invention is to arrange the checker bricks in achamber suitable for containing them and to completethe 79 vertical walls'entirely across the chamber by means of special bricks which form end shapes and which adjust the vertical walls to the dimensions of the chamber.

Yet anotherfeature of my invention is to arrange a checker brick system in a. chamber in such a manner as to maintain approximately a uniform gas velocity in the main gas conduits feeding the checker brick syss tem. The checker brick system is located in 80 the central part of the chamber and spaced from the bottom and from thetop'walls thereof. There are thus defined passages or conduits between the top and bottom walls of the chamber and the top and bottom of the checker brick system. These conduits communicate at one end with the main flue connection and decrease in size as they extend away from the main fines. i This decrease may conveniently take place by means of a change in checker brick elevation which takes place in stages or steps. i

For a further exposition of my invention reference may be had to the annexed drawings and specification at the end whereof my invention will be specifically pointed out and claimed. f

In the drawings, .Y

Figure l is a view in projection showing the checker brick system.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing one modiication.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line A-A of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is cross section on line B-B of LFigure 2.

illustration in the drawings, my device is shown as consisting of a chamber generally indicated as l which is formed of bricks or any suitable heat resisting material. In the embodiment shown, my device is intended for use with reversing furnaces although it will be apparent that my novel check-er bri k system is capable of use for many other purposes without the exercise of invention. At one end chamber i has a passage or main flue 2 which, in the modification shown7 is intended for connection to the furnace and, at the diagonally opposite corner, chamber l has a passage or main flue 3 which is intended for connection with the stack, in the modification chosen. These passages serve as both inlets and outlets for gas depending upon the direction of flow through the checker brick system. The checker brick system, generaly indicated at 4, occupies the central part of the chamber 1 and is spaced from the bottom yand from the top walls thereof. At the bottom the checker brick system is su1 ported on piers or walls of brick 5, as is best seen in Figures 3, r4 and 6. Since the checker brick system 4 is spaced from the bottom and from the top walls of chamber l there are thus deiined between the checker brick system 4 and the said walls conduits, generally indicated at 6 and at 7. These conduits communicate at one of their ends with Vthe main iiues 2 and 3 respectively and one of their sides are in coinmunication with the open passages of the checker brick. In order to equalize the velocity of the gas passing through all parts of the checker system the conduits 6 and 7 decrease in size away from the passages 2 and 3 respectively. A convenient method of securing this decrease in size is to vary the elevation of the conduits 6 and 7 away from the passages 2 and 3 respectively. As is seen in Figure 3 this may conveniently be done by di'- viding the checker brick system 4 into sections and supporting these sections upon portions ofthe piers 5 of different height. This method of varying the elevation of conduits 6 and 7 is, however, merely illustrative as I may vary the dimensions of these conduits so that they decrease awa;7 from the passages 2 and 3 in any suitable manner.

Referring now more specilically to the checker brick system 4 itself it will be seen that this system is built up of a plurality of bricks 8 which are laid in courses so Yas to form vertical walls, generally indicated at 88. rlhese vertical walls are spaced apart and provide between them flues generally indicated at 9 for the passage of gas through the checker brick system. The vertical walls 88 and consequently the flu-es 9 may extend longitudinally or laterally of the chamber l depending on the manner in which it is dcsired to conduct the gas through the checker brick system. It will be noted that, in both the modifications which I have disclosed, the flues 9 entend laterally of the chamber l but I do not intend 'to be limited in this respect as it is well known in the art to place the fines longitudinally of the chamber in constructions in which this secures a desirable result. Vflic bricks 3 have in their sides and ends notches l() which are shown as being if-shaped in cross section. Any other shape may chosen if desirY d.

Supported at their ends in the vertical walls 33 and extending across the flues 9 there are provided transverse bricks ll which are shown as being rectangular' or diamond cbaped in cross section. I do not intend to limit in: lf to transverse bricks of quadral.; cross section although I prefer such bric ls as the best embodiment of my invention. Nordo l intend 'to limit myself to bricks which uniform throughout their lengths in cross section as the ends of the bricks may be formed of one cross section where vthey are received in the walls S8 and the central portion of the bricks which entend across the vflues 9 may be of another cross section'. Transverse bricks ll re received in notches l() in thesides and ends of bricks S so that the transverse bricks are thereby firmly locked in position in the walls 38.

An impor ant feature of my invention is that the bricks 8 which form the vertical s 88 and the transverse bricks ll cooperate together to provide between them openings l2 which are shown as being triangular in cross section but whose shape depends upon the respective shapes of bricks 8 and ll. These orilices or openings l2 are of suitable dimensions relative to the flues 9 to permit gas to pass from one flue 9 into the adjacent 'fines andthereby equalizes the temperature of th heat stored in the bricks defining the iiues.

It will be noted that the alternate bricks ll are staggered or located out of alinement so that the gas passing either vertically or horizontally through the flues 9 yis baffled or deflected and is thereby caused to become turbulent and thus impart more heat to or extract more heat from the refractory bricks.

It is a feature of my invention that the bricks ll aresent sharply sloping surfaces to the oil-coming gas whether it travels vertically or horizontally. Since these surfaces slopesharply there is a greatly reduced tendency for dust .to deposit on the surfaces of the transverse bricks. My improved checker system may, therefore, be operated for much longer periods without clogging of the openings or flues.

'I have indicated in Figures 2 and 4 one method of adjusting the length of the vertical walls 88 to the dimension of the chamber 1 with which the `walls 88 must fit in order to complete the walls all the way across the chamber. For this purpose I provide on the ends of alternate courses of the walls 88 bricks 14 which have a rounded surface and opposite thereto a flat surface to lit against the wall of chamber l. At the ends of the opposite alternate courses of walls 88 I provide bricks 13 which have indented or cut away rounded corners to receive the projecting rounded corners of the bricks 14. There is thus provided a continuous wall 88 completely across the chamber l and this Wall may be accurately fitted to varying dimensions of the chamber 1 regardless of the fact that the length of bricks 8 is not an even fraction of the dimension of chamber 1.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown an alternate method of adjusting the length of walls 88 to the dimension of chamber 1 which they are to fit. I do this by providing bricks 15 which are generally L-shaped in vertical cross section. rIhe width of the long arm of the L and the length of the short arm of the L is approximately half the width or height of the bricks 8. The angle between the long and short arms of the L-shaped bricks 15 is formed at an angle of approximately 450 to the long arm. It will thus be apparent, as seen in Figure 6, that when two of the bricks l5 are laid with their short arms touching they are suitable to receive one of the transverse bricks 11 therein and at their outer ends of their long arms to receive the end of one of the bricks 8. There is thus provided an alternate means for adjusting the length of the walls 88 and forming these walls continuously across the chamber 1 despite the fact that the length of the bricks 8 is not an even fraction of the dimension of chamber 1.

The word gas as used in this specification and claims is used in its broad sense to mean any gaseous fluid including air.

I do not intend to be limited in the practice of my invention save as the scope of the prior art and of the attached claims may require.

I claim:

l. A checker brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supported at their ends in said walls and extending across said flues and presenting sharp edges and deiiecting surfaces to gas passing through saidiues, said first mentioned bricks and said second mentioned bricks defining substantially triangular orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the flues.V e L 2. A checker brick systemfincluding a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining fiues for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantiallyrectangular transverse brickssupported at their ends in saidy walls and extending across said flues andpresenting sharp edges and deflecting surfaces :to

gas passing through said iiues,`alternate transverse bricks being staggered to deflect the flow of gas through said flues, said first mentioned bricks and saidsecond mentioned bricks defining substantially triangular orisaid first mentioned bricks and said second mentioned bricks deiining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the Vgas in the flues.

4. A checker brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular vbricks having notches in their sides and ends and arranged in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between the walls and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supported at their ends in said-walls in said notches in the first mentioned bricks, alternate transverse bricks being staggered to deiiect the flow of gas through said flues, said first mentioned bricks and said second mentioned bricks defining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the flues.

5.` A checker brick system for conducting gas in opposite directions, said system including a plurality of .substantially rectangular bricks having V-sha-ped notches in their sides and ends and laid with their longer dimension horizontal forming vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between them, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse lbricks supported at their ends in said walls in said notches `in said first mentioned bricks, saidtransverse bricks being laid with one corner uppermost and one corner lowermost to present equalsloping surfaces to the flow of gas in either direction and being staggered to baffle the fiow of' gas through the said flues, said first mentioned bricks and said second mentioned bricks pro- 55 viding a plurality of triangular orifices between the bricks, said orifices serving to equalize the static pressure of the gas in the flues.

6. A checker brick System including va chamber containing checker bricks therein lll. v

and gas passages at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of bricks laid in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between them, bricks generally L-shaped inlvertical cross section at the ends of the courses of said rst mentioned bricks serving to complete said Vertical walls across said chamber, and transverse brickszsupported at their ends in said walls and extending across said flues, said first mentioned bricks and said last mentioned bricks defining orifices therebetween which serve to equalize the static pressure of the gas in said chamber.V n

7. A checker brick system including a chamber containing achecker brick work, said chamber having gas passages atv diagonally opposite corners thereof, a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between the walls. a pluralit\ of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supported at their ends in said walls and extending across said flues and presenting sharp edges and deflecting surfaces to gas passing through said flues, said first .mentioned kbricks and lsaid second mentioned bricks forming the checker brick work and defining substantially triangular orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas insaid chamber, said checker bricks being spaced from the top and from the bottom walls of said chamber and defining conduits between the top and'bottom` walls of said chamber and the top and bottom of said checker brick work respectively, said conduits communicating'with said passages and decreasing in size away from said passages.

8. A checker brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supported attheir ends in said walls and extending across said fines, said first mentionedbricks and said seco-nd -mentioned bricks defining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the flues.

9. A checker brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining fiues for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bri-cks supported at `their' ends in said walls and extending across said flues, alternate transverse bricks being staggered to deflect the flow of gas through said flues, said first mentioned bricks and said second mentioned bricks defining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the flues.

l0. A checker brick system including a Ichamber containing checker bricks therein and'gas passages at opposite ends thereof, a

plurality of bricks laid in vertical walls defining fines for conducting gas between them, bricks having curved surfaces at the ends of alternate courses of said first mentioned bricks, bricks in said alternate courses adjacent said second mentioned bricks and having suit-able curved surfaces contacting with the curved 4surfaces of said second mentioned bricks, bricks having corners cut away suitably to contact with the curved surfaces of said second and said third mentioned bricks at the ends of the other alternate courses of said first mentioned bricks, said second mentioned and said fourth mentioned bricks serving to complete said vertical walls across said chamber, and transverse bricks supported at their ends in said walls and extending across said fines, said first mentioned bricks and said last mentioned bricks defining orifices therebetween which serve to equalize the static pressure of the gas in said chamber.

ll. A checker brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls defining flues for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supported .at their `ends in said walls on the sides of and, intermediate the corners of said first mentioned bricks and extending across said fines, the side surfaces of said second mentioned bricks being tilted relative to the supporting surfaces of said first mentioned bricks defining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the flues.

12. A checker' brick system including a plurality of substantially rectangular bricks arranged in vertical walls dening fines for conducting gas between the walls, and a plurality of substantially rectangular transverse bricks supportediat their ends in said walls on the sides of and intermediate the co-rners of said first mentionedbricks and extending across said flues, alternate transverse bricks being staggered to deflect the flow of gas through said flues, the side surfaces of said second mentioned bricks being tilted relative to the supporting surfaces of said firstvmentioned bricks defining orifices between them for equalizing the static pressure of the gas in the fiues. v

FRED M. MILLER. 

